Timepieces

ABSTRACT

A timepiece comprises a plurality of transparent discs coaxially mounted within a case, each disc carrying a reference mark, each mark indicating respectively, different units of time, the discs being rotatable beneath a cover glass having a graticule marked on a surface of the cover glass.

v 0 United States Patent 1151 Calame 1 May 30, 1972 [54] TIMEPIECES 1,650,123 11/1927 Gritton .158/127 R [72] Inventor: Pler're Calame, Chapelle, Switzerland FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 1 Zodiac SA, Le Lode. Switzerland 332,202 10/1958 Switzerland ..58/126 A 22 Filed: Dec 4 7 318,497 2/1957 Switzerland ..58/l26 R I 62,174 11/1912 Switzerland ..58/91 APP -I 5,028 305,461 5/1955 Switzerland... 58/126 A 349,215 11/1960 Switzerland ..58/126 A [30] Foreign Apphcaflon Priority Data Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Dec. 5, 1969 Switzerland ..18l49 Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. Wal AttorneyRobert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato [52] US. Cl. ..'58/l26 A, 58/127 R [51] Int. Cl. ..G04b 19/00 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search ..58/125 R, 125 B, 126 R, 126 A, A t1mep1ece comprises a plural1ty of transparent discs coaxi- 58/127 R, 152 F, 152G,57,42.5,91

ally mounted w1th1n a case, each d1sc carrying a reference mark, each mark indicating respectively, different units of [56] Reterences Cited time, the discs being rotatable beneath a cover glass having a n- STATES PATENTS graticule marked on a surface of the cover glass.

864,467 8/1907 Ingraham ..58/127 R 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures TIMEPIECES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to timepieces and in particular to wrist-watches in which the conventional hour and minute hands are replaced by discs carrying reference marks.

Wrist watches are known in which the hour and minute hands are replaced by discs carrying reference marks but these known wrist watches often suffer from the disadvantage that time reading it not easy since it is difficult to see the reference marks and to translate their positions into time. Moreover, timepieces up to now have no indicator or disc for seconds.

AIMS OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is the provision of a timepiece in which rotatable discs bearing reference marks replace the conventional hands, said timepieces having means for displaying said reference marks and their relative positionsclearly.

According to the present invention, a timepiece comprises a plurality of transparent discs coaxially mounted within a' case,

each disc carrying a reference mark, each mark indicating respectively, different units of time, the discs being rotatable beneath a cover glass having a graticule marked on a surface of the cover glass.

The graticule may be marked on the surface of the cover glass adjacent the discs.

Preferably, the discs are positioned between the cover glass and a plate mounted in the case of the timepiece, the plate surface adjacent the discs having a color or shade which causes the reference marks to stand out visually against the background of the plate.

Preferably, the cover glass is made of a mineral glass and the graticule is marked on the mineral glass by serigraphy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES An embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, reference being made to the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view ofa timepiece; and

FIG. 2 is a crosssection on the line IIII of FIG.1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown, a timepiece in the form of a wrist watch has the conventional hands for indicating hours, minutes and seconds replaced by three pivotally mounted coaxial rotatably driven discs 1, 2 and 3 made of a transparent material each bearing a reference mark in the form of an opaque dot 4, 5, 6. A plate 7 replaces the conventional dial and its color and shade are chosen to make the dots 4, 5, 6 clearly stand out against the background of the plate 7. For example, for dark or black dots, a plate 7 will be chosen having a white or pale colored upper surface.

A further step to facilitate reading the time on the watch, consists of marking the watch or cover glass 10 with a graticule. The graticule includes a plurality of circular lines 8 and a plurality of radial lines 9, the circular lines 8 dividing the cover glass 10 into predetermined zones for each dot 4, 5, 6. The graticule can be etched or printed by serigraphy on the lower face 10a of the mineral glass 10. A satisfactory esthetic effect is obtained with the graticule.

Other forms of graticule can be used and any suitable etching or printing process can be employed to mark the graticule on the surface 10a. A trade-mark can be formed in the middle of the glass 10 or the plate 7.

The term cover glass used throughout this specification is intended to cover not only glass but also transparent plastics materials capable of being marked with a graticule.

What is claimed is:

1. A timepiece comprising, a case, a cover glass having a graticule marked on one surface, means mounting the cover glass being mounted on one side of the case, and three superposed coaxial (11565 of transparent matertal having substantially the same diameter and each carrying a reference mark, a plate within the case, the discs being positioned between the cover glass and the plate mounted within the case, the plate surface adjacent the discs having a color effective to cause the reference marks to stand out visually against the background color of the plate, each reference mark being located at a discrete different radial distance from a common axis of the discs, means pivotally mounting said discs, and the discs being rotatably driven at respectively different speeds about the common axis so that the reference marks respectively indicate hours, minutes and seconds, said graticule comprising a series of radially arranged first lines corresponding to divisions of time and a series of circular second lines coaxial to said discs, one second line passing between each successive pair of discrete radially separated reference marks.

2. A timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the cover glass is made of a mineral glass and the graticule is marked on the surface of the mineral glass adjacent the discs by serigraphy. 

1. A timepiece comprising, a case, a cover glass having a graticule marked on one surface, means mounting the cover glass being mounted on one side of the case, and three superposed coaxial discs of transparent material having substantially the same diameter and each carrying a reference mark, a plate within the case, the discs being positioned between the cover glass and the plate mounted within the case, the plate surface adjacent the discs having a color effective to cause the reference marks to stand out visually against the background color of the plate, each reference mark being located at a discrete different radial distance from a common axis of the discs, means pivotally mounting said discs, and the discs being rotatably driven at respectively different speeds about the common axis so that the reference marks respectively indicate hours, minutes and seconds, said graticule comprising a series of radially arranged first lines corresponding to divisions of time and a series of circular second lines coaxial to said discs, one second line passing between each successive pair of discrete radially separated reference marks.
 2. A timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the cover glass is made of a mineral glass and the graticule is marked on the surface of the mineral glass adjacent the discs by serigraphy. 